"Ethnographic Insights: Understanding Guinea's Cultural Dynamics"

1 Module 4-2: Ethnographic Analysis Karen Aucella Southern New Hampshire University, IHP 501

2 Ethnographic Analysis of Guinea

3 Ethnicity Guinea is a country of multi-ethnicities, many of them indigenous. The Fula tribe is the largest ethnic group in Guinea, comprising 36% of the population. The Fula people are primarily Muslim. The Susu comprise 17% of the population, while the Malinke represent approximately 23%. Both of these ethnic groups are predominantly Muslim. The Foresters account for 14% of the population. The Susu, Malike, and Foresters have shared cultural traits. (Diallo, 2019) Guinea has a long-standing history of ethnic favoritism, with the Susu and Malike having more influence. The Islamic culture sees the body as sacred. The Muslim faith considers the preparation of the body a religious requirement. (Gatrad, 1994) The political climate led to a mistrust of authorities during the Ebola crisis of 2014. Suspicion resulted in non-compliance regarding funeral protocols enacted to minimize infection. Ebola was elevated to a Malinke conspiracy plot to infect those in opposition. (Soumahoro, 2020) Stakes The stakes are high when it comes to Ebola outbreaks. The incubation period of 2-21 days presents a massive window for disease transmission. Genomic sequencing revealed a direct human link between the outbreak of 2014 and the most recent resurgence of the virus in 2021. Ebola has also exhibited dormancy in those infected previously, indicating that the virus may recur without animal involvement. Survivors of Ebola should be monitored to ensure that the virus is inactive. (Keita et al., 2021) The Ebola Epidemic of 2013-2016 resulted in more than 11,000 deaths, most of which occurred in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. The outbreak originated in Guinea. Education, developing additional healthcare sites, access to clean water, infrastructure to reach remote areas, and disease preparedness are critical to preventing resurgence. (Ohimain & Silas-Olu, 2021)

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4 The Meaning of Illness Fulani tradition recognizes illness above the waist due to living in an arid climate. When cultural norms are not adhered to, infections below the waist are thought to result from straying from Fulani customs and behavior. Illness may be seen as a character flaw and may go unaddressed to conceal it. (Gordon, 2000) The treatment of epilepsy in Guinea is a case in point. Although medical treatment is considered the best course of action, many Guineans living in remote areas turn to traditional healers. The reason is two-fold: the distance to an urban hospital is often too far to travel, and both the Fulani and the Malinke consider epilepsy a maladie du diable - French for sickness from the devil (or evil spirits). The supernatural was also attributed to jinn, invisible spirits described in the Koran (Anand et al., 2019) Social Stressors More than 17,000 people survived the Ebola outbreak of 2013-2016. A study conducted following the containment of the recurrence revealed cases of PTSD, mild depression, moderate depression, and severe depression with hallucinations. Some patients experienced suicidal ideation. The impact of the disease was not limited to those who recovered but included family members of the deceased. In addition, many who suffered from Ebola were stigmatized by their communities, further isolating them. (“Depressive symptoms among survivors of Ebola virus disease in Conakry (Guinea): preliminary results of the PostEboGui cohort,” 2017) Misconceptions about Ebola were prolific. A study among laypeople in Guinea revealed beliefs such as the disease was a punishment from God, that praying to God protects against infection, and that one can become infected by passing another on the street. Such misconceptions increased the fear of stigmatization and victimization. The belief that Westerners

5 created Ebola – those who wanted to provide medical assistance – also contributed to stressors. (Kpanake et al., 2016) Impacts Overcoming misconceptions about the intentions of those wanting to provide humanitarian aid would require education about the disease and Western medicine. The challenge is to educate in a relatable manner. Creating relationships with members of remote communities, engaging them in building medical facilities, and recruiting and training people to work in the clinics may provide the assurances needed to implement humanitarian aid successfully.

6 References Anand, P., Othon, G. C., Sakadi, F., Tassiou, N. R., Hamani, A. B. D., Bah, A. K., Allaramadji, B. T., Barry, D. N., Vogel, A., & Cisse, F. A. (2019). Epilepsy and traditional healers in the Republic of Guinea: A mixed methods study. Epilepsy & Behavior , 92 , 276–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.01.017 Depressive symptoms among survivors of Ebola virus disease in Conakry (Guinea): preliminary results of the PostEboGui cohort. (2017). BMC Psychiatry , 17 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1280-8 Diallo, A. (2019, October 29). Guinea’s Ethnic Conflict – Confluence . NYU. https://confluence.gallatin.nyu.edu/sections/research/guineas-ethnic-conflict Gatrad, A. R. (1994). Muslim customs surrounding death, bereavement, postmortem examinations, and organ transplants. BMJ , 309 (6953), 521–523. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.309.6953.521 Gordon, A. J. (2000). Cultural Identity and Illness: Fulani Views . 24 (3), 297–330. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005677825795 Keita, A. K., Koundouno, F. R., Faye, M., Dux, A., & Hinzmann, J. (2021, September 15). Resurgence Of Ebola Virus In 2021 In Guinea Suggests A New Paradigm For Outbreaks - Nature . Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03901-9 Kpanake, L., Gossou, K., Sorum, P. C., & Mullet, E. (2016, May). Misconceptions about Ebola virus disease among lay people in Guinea: Lessons for community education . ProQuest. https://resolver-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/openurl?sid=EBSCO:edswsc

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7 Ohimain, E. I., & Silas-Olu, D. (2021). The 2013–2016 Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa. Current Opinion in Pharmacology , 60 , 360–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coph.2021.08.002 Soumahoro, S. (2020). Ethnic politics and Ebola response in West Africa . Science Direct . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105042

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